And it’s where Baltimore Police are turning for help. The department is asking clergy throughout the city to bring officers into their congregations and communities, to find ways of diffusing situations before the need for handcuffs.

“They have arresting authority, but their function becomes to make sure that we intervene, connect and promote the health, welfare and well-being of our communities,” said Rev. Todd Yeary of Douglas Memorial Community Church.

This concept is targeting neighborhoods where relations with police are not the best.

“Right now, in different parts of our community, they just, basically, don’t like us. We don’t have the credibility. We don’t have respect, and we have to start making those grounds to improve those things,” said Batts.

The department wants to reduce crime, even if it takes heavenly help to improve its street cred.

Batts said similar efforts to build community support helped reduce violent crime in his previous job as top cop in Oakland, Calif.

Alex DeMetrickAlex DeMetrick has been a general assignment reporter with WJZ Eyewitness News since September 1984.
Alex began his journalism career in...More fromAlex DeMetrick